Category Archives: Famous Conductors

How To Pick Your Next Music Director

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82304-050-242D7462 19th Century “eye-candy”

From a recent online review of a candidate’s orchestra concert/audition-

“From his physical presence to his conducting style to the little flourish he makes with his bows, (he) personifies elegance. (My friend) advised me to mention the “eye-candy” factor. Yes, he’s got film-star good looks and stage presence.”

Don’t be surprised to see in the near future: To apply for this vacancy, you must have the following: A photo of your beautiful self that says “eye-candy!”- foreign sounding name helpful.

That’s about it: CV, press reviews, recommendations, references, CDs, years of experience all are optional.

Are we coming to that? A beauty contest for conductors? And you wonder why Orchestras in this country are struggling. Maybe conductors should start tossing little hankies like Liszt did.

                                                   

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Rubinstein’s Symphony No. 5

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Listen to the entire Symphony No. 5 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJbclX2CfD4

Thanks to GoldieG89 for posting it. (You can also buy the entire CD at Amazon.)

The cellist János Starker has died

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http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-cellist-jános-starker-has-died

János Starker, the Hungarian-born Jewish-American cellist has died; he was 88. Starker started playing the cello aged only five and gave his first public performances a year later. He studied at the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest where his cello teacher was Adolf Schiffer; he was also greatly influenced by the composer and faculty member Leo Weiner. He made his professional debut aged 14 when he stepped in, on three hours’ notice, and played the Dvořák Cello Concerto.

One of the great musicians of our time.

delosde3341April 28, 2013

Van Cliburn, Cold War Musical Envoy, Dies at 78

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Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 - NYTimes.com

Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 – NYTimes.com

An international legend for over five decades, a great humanitarian and a brilliant musician whose light will continue to shine through his extraordinary legacy. Van Cliburn was the American pianist whose first-place award at the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow made him an overnight sensation and propelled him to a phenomenally successful and lucrative career. Perhaps it was the pressure of stardom thrusted upon a 23-year old was too much and as a result, by 1978, he retired from the stage. He was praised for his technical strength, musical poise, and manly lyricism unmarred by eccentricity.

A Great Maestro Passes

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James DePreist, 76, the distinguished conductor and educator, died Friday, Feb. 9, at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., of complications from a heart attack last spring. He defied both skin color and health problems to become a pre-eminent conductor. Maestro DePreist had a long association with the Julliard School, including, from 2004 through 2011, as a tenure as director of orchestral and conducting studies.He was a popular guest conductor as well as music director laureate of the Oregon Symphony. DePreist was one of the good guys. The music world has suffered a great loss.

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A 19th Century Prodigy: NOT A One Hit Wonder

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Portrait of Georges Bizet (1838–1875): t...

When we think of musical child prodigies, we immediately think of Mozart. But did you know that Bizet entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 9? His Symphony in C was written 1853 when he was only 17. Though most famous for his opera Carmen, Bizet’s only Symphony shows a flair for long beautiful melodies found in most of the movements. His slow second movement is interrupted in the middle with a fugue. His music is bubbly, always rhythmic, and melodic. Bizet demonstrates complete comprehension of sonata form. He suppressed the Symphony in deference to his teacher Gounod because he felt it sounded too much like his mentor’s work. It was subsequently lost and not found until 1933 and was finally performed in1935. Luckily, this little gem is part of today’s orchestral repertoire. Like Mozart, Bizet died at an early age; a few months short of his 37th Birthday